IFP to Honor Netflix Exec Ted Sarandos at Gotham Awards

IFP to Honor Netflix Exec Ted Sarandos at Gotham Awards

For his role in making independent film as accessible as it has ever been, the Independent Filmmakers Project is going to honor Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos with the 2014 Industry Award at the Gotham Independent Film Awards this December. The Industry Award is given to a veteran in the film arena who has significantly impacted the business. In previous years it has been awarded to Roger Ebert, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, David Cronenberg, Spike Lee, Charlize Theron, Kate Winslet, and Bob & Harvey Weinstein.

"[Sarandos] saw where streaming was going long before most in our industry," said Joanna Vicente of IFP, "and was the first to create online original programming and allow us to binge entire seasons of it to our hearts content at one go."

In addition, the Gotham Awards will honor two others with special achievement honors, and seven competitive awards. These are Best Feature, Best Documentary, Best Actor, Best Actress, Breakthrough Director and Breakthrough Actor. Top honors in 2013 went to "Inside Llewyn Davis" and "The Act of Killing." Submissions for these competitive categories must be made by September 19 and nominees will be announced on October 23. Sarandos and the lucky winners will be honored at the Cipriani Wall Street on December 1.